Folding machine



Dec. 4, 1934. H. 1.. W000 1,982,843

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 HA/a/ey A Woa H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 29, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 gum n for /4 ay A. W000. 3'

aftozmzq H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 29, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 AE/9y 1. W000 8 8 s N M I Dec. 4, 1934..

H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACHiNE l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 z /e/eyl- W000 vFiled- Dec. 29, 1931.

Ho: nu:

H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 29, l93l 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 I A meley 1. 14/000 w i dftozuu:

Dec. 4, 1934. H, woo 1,982,848

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 I Illllllllllllllllllllflll H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Fil ed Dec.

29, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 c u m w w A V/ M c #4 v W m h NN \wvmvd m vm H L. WOOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 29, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 o 0 W A m M H. L. WGOD FOLDING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Qwuentoz M/zze A W000.

H. L. WOOD FOLDING MACH INE Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed Dec. 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 1,9s2,s4a, FOLDING MACHINE Barry L.. Wood, Lakewood, Ohio, 'assignor to Charles D. Wood & Sons, Inc.,'Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation :of Ohio Application December 29, 1931, Serial No. 583,633

" 11 Claims. (01. 93-49) This invention relates to folding machines broadly and more. particularly to a machine for automatically folding blanks for corrugated boxes. It is customary in making boxes of this type to first cut a blank of the required dimensions from stockmaterial, then print the blank, if desired, and score or crease the blanks along the folding line, after which the blank is folded and a strip of adhesive applied to the'joining edges. The box in flat form is then ready for shipment to the consignee of empty boxes.

A blank, ready for folding, is shown in Fig; 1. The side walls of the box are designated A, B,

and d. The blank as shown has been scored or creased between theproposed side walls-at E, F, and G and slotted at e, I, and g. -The score marks or creases E and G are the lines of fold and at which point the sides or side flaps A and D will be folded over and laid fiat on the sides B and C and a strip of adhesive H, .(note 'the completed box in Fig. 2), applied to the meeting edges. The top and bottom flaps are folded on the lines I when the box is set up for use. The score'lines E and G are generally made when the blank is printed and are almost invariably accurate, so that if the sides are accurately folded The present invention is primarily concerned with the folding of the box blank along the score lines E and G; This operation has'most generally been performed manually, 'asmachines heretofore proposed for this 'work have proved unsatisfactory, so far as known, due to'their inaccuracy in folding along the score line which 1 results in distortion of the box. Manual folding is also objectionable, not only from the stand-,

point of greatly increased expense of production, but also in viewof the tendency of the worker to fold the box along the lines of least resistance regardless of the score line.

. The present machine has a capacity greatly exceeding that afforded by manual labor and folds the blanks automatically and accurately along the line of fold without distortion regardless of the grooves in thecorrugations of the 5 blank, and furthermore, it is not necessary to C and D and the top or bottom flaps a, b, 0,"

score or mark, although thismay be done if desired.

The various features of novelty and advantage resident in the improved machine will become apparent in. view of the following description so taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view-of a corrugated box blank; s

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box folded from the blank of Fig. 1; I c Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the teaching of my invention;

Figure 4 is a .plan view thereof Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken, re-

spectively, on the lines 5-5 and6--6 of Fig. 3;

Figures '7 and 8 are sectional elevational views of thefolding mechanism of Fig.3;

Figure 91s a similar view showing an air circulating system at the sameplace intended to give pneumatic aid in the folding process Figure 10' is a view in sideelevation of a modified form of machine embodying features of my invention; v y

Figure 11' is a view in endelevation of .the mao chine in Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is a partial plan view thereof;

1 Figures 13 and 14 are detail views in front and, side elevation of folding mechanism; and

Figure 15 is an enlarged section showing the 5 key and collar mounting on the shaft of Fig. 6

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional view of the folding shoe, showing .the position of the blank and folding mechanism at the termination of the folding operationp Referring to Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings, the mainframe of the machine comprises supporting pedestals 5, 6, and '7, side rails or angle beams 8, connector rails 9,. cross rails or supports 10, 11 and 12 and upright supports 13.

The blanks X are stacked at one end of the machine (the left end as viewed in Fig. 3) on a platform or table comprising side portions 14 and a central portion 14a, said portions being spacedlaterally of the machine and resting on supports 15 and combined supports and guide members .16, (Fig, 5). Between thesetable portions 14, 14a move feed bars 17 which are secured, as by welding or otherwise, to clips 18 mounted on links 19 forming part of a flexible conveyor or chain 20. The feeder bars 17 are spaced from each other and move horizontally along the table 14, 14a, and are laterally adjustable of a conveyor 20 to accommodate various size blanks.

At their ends the bars 17 are offset to provide no guide flanges 17a which engage under and are guided by the members 16.

The conveyor 20 as shown is in the form of a sprocket chain which is trained over sprockets 21 secured on shafts 22 and 23. The shaft 22 is mounted in bearings in adjustable supporting members 24 movably mounted in the pedestals 5 and adjustable by screws 25, whereby the'-con-' being mounted for lateral shifting movement with respect to the machine on upright supports 13 while the member 27 may be adjustably secured thereto. The ends of the cross shafts are also fixed in brackets28a on the upright supports 13.

In order to accurately align the blanks for movement through the machine to the folding mechanism (to be described), an aligning device or slot guide 29, said'device being preferably formed with a'tapered edge which registers in the slots e or a of the blanks. To further ensure accurate alignment and hold the stack of blanks againstdisplacement, the guide member 27 is of angle shape, the corners of the blanks being capable of fitting in the angle formed thereby. It will thus be seen that the blanks are aligned at the point where the slots are formed and it is.on this line that the blanks are folded. This is of advantage in that regardless of whether or not the blanks are cut' uniformly to specified ,rectangular dimensions, they. will always register with the folding mechanism.

'Theguide and retainer members 26, 26a are adjustable with respect tov one another, and the member 27, by means of an adjusting rod or shaft 30 which" is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 31 fixed to the upright supports which is provided with a hand wheel 32. The members 26 and 26a have secured thereto interiorly threaded adjusting brackets as which are threaded on right and left hand threaded portions of the rod 30. Thus by turning the hand wheel 32, the above 'noted adjusting action may be readily accomplished. An important advantage of this adjustment feature is that the parts may be adjusted while the machine is in opera tion as well as while at rest from a point easily accessible 'exteriorof the machine. v

As the feeder bars 17 advance in their cycle under the stack ,of blanks, each bar engages the lowermost blank and urges it forward between the table 14, 14a and hold-down bars 34 secured at one end to the members 26, 26aand extending longitudinally of the machine with their outer edges on the line of fold, the opposite ends of said bars resting on folding shoes to be described. These bars 34 are preferably doweled at their ends and inserted in holes formed in the members 26,

' 26a so that in case the blanks should, for any versely ofthe machine in opening 36a provided in the table, said clips being normally in lifting position, and are pressed down by the passing feed r bars 17 and immediately resume their normal position after the bars clear and lift the next successive panels A, D into engagement with fold starter shoes 39, note Figs. 3 and 6, which, as here shown, are in the form of bars which are suitably inclined at an angle for a portion of their length and are adjustably supportedjboth as to their angular, lateral-and vertical positions, by means of laterally adjustable hanger brackets 40 which in turn have secured thereto vertically adjustable starter-holding brackets 41, the entire assembly being secured to a transverse shaft 42 which is supported at opposite extremities by -means of b'rackets43. in turn secured to main supporting brackets 44 which are attached to the pedestals 6. i

When the blanks reach a point some distance in advance of where the side panels A, D begin to ride on the horizontal portions 390. of the starter shoes 39, the intermediate panels B, C pass, be-

neath folding shoes 45 and a center supporting preferably. in the proportion shown in Fig. 16,

there is formed a longitudinallyextending recess or depression extending the full length of the shoe and terminatinglaterally in the shoulder 45b. Without this groove, I have found that the inner sheet of the corrugated blank tends to wrinkle on the top side of the shoe adjacent the folding edge and by providing the recess as indicated, space is provided for the excess material on the inside of the turn or fold by 'virtue of which the inner and outer sheets of the blank are not torn from the inner corrugated material and the tendency of the blank to bind onthe folding shoe is substantially eliminated. Furthermore, by eliminating the crowding of the excess material at this point I also eliminate the tendency of the folds to be other than perfectly its straight whereby I'insure the production of unlandposition which mustbe taken by the inner and outer sheets of the blanks andprovide for displacement or movement ofinner material of the blank without disruption of that material or separation from the inner and outer sheets of the blank. It will be appreciated that the benefits illustratedin connection with corrugated paper board are also available for folding solid stock.

The'shoes 45 and center bar 46, as here shown, are carried at one extremity by hanger brackets 47 supported from the shaft 42, the shoe brackets being preferably mounted to have a sliding fit on said shaft. v ,To provide for ready lateral adjustment of the shoes 45, both whilethe machine is in operation and while at rest, their supporting brackets 47 are interiorly threaded and extend out and engage right and left hand screw threads formed on an adjusting rod 48, which passes through said brackets and is journalled at opposite ends in the brackets'43, said'rod being provided with a hand wheel 49. The rear extremities of the shoes 45 are supported by the center supits These bars are also formed with bracket extensions "500 in which pinion shafts 53" are. mounted. At their rear ends, the bars 50 and 50a are slidablysupportedon a shaft or bar 54 car ried bythe pedestals '7.

Theshaft 90h'as slidably keyed thereto raiding" cams 55 carried by the extensions50b by means of a step down key 52. passing therethrough and retained in posLtion by a set screw 98 in the collar 99 "on the opposite side of said extension 50b (Fig. 15). These cams are adapted to contact with rollers 56, mounted on cam levers 5'7 retracted by springs 57a, said levers being secured on the stubshafts 53, the latter having a geared connection by means of gears 58 with folding shafts 59. The shafts 59 are also mounted and have bearing in bracket extensions 60 formed integral with the bars 50.

Adiustably secured on the shafts 59 are fold ing arms 91 which have rotatably mountedthereon folding'rolls 61, adapted to engage the sidepanels A and D and fold them over the shoes 45.

' A coil spring 93' is telescoped over the shaft 59 engaging the arm 91which is adapted to'return the folding mechanism to its original position.

It will be seen that thefolding bars 50 carry the entire folding assembly compris-ng the cam levers 5'1, pinion shafts 53, gears 58, shafts 59,-

arms 91' and rolls 61, andthat'the cams 55 on the shaft 90 move with the saldbars. This assembly is held in position and maybe adjusted as a unit laterally of the machine, both while the machine is in operation and while at'rest, by means of a rod or shaft 62 when is journalled at opposite ends in bearing brackets63 fixed to the rails 9 and is provided with a hand wheel "64. This rod is provided with right and lefthand' threads and threaded through interiorly threaded holes in the shoes50. By turning the hand wheel-64, the above noted adjustment may be effected from a convenient point exterior of the machine.

The numeral 65designates a center gu de-member which is shown in the form of a strip or sheet but may be in any form found suitable, said memf ber being attached at one end to the center in turn adjustably receive holding brackets 68, the latter carrying flap catchers 68a, which may be in the form of resilient rods bentat an angle or diverging outwardly from the' member 65.

These rods 68a catch the panels or flaps A, D as the latter pass from the fold starter shoes 39a.

to being acted on by the folding rolls 61.

The brackets 67 also adjustably support fold setter rods 69, which set or retain the flaps intheir folded position after they havebeen acted on by the rolls 61.

The drive on the conveyor 20 and cam shaft may be applied through change speed gears 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74. The speed of the machine may be varied to suit the requirements dependent upon the size of the blanks to be folded, to this end a hand wheel 100 is afllxed to the cross shaft 101 supported on the rails 8, in bearing blocks 10;, sprockets 104 and chain 105 connects this shaft with a speed control unit 106 directly connected with the power source -10'7. Thus it will be seen that the speed ofthe machinemay be adjusted while it operates or at rest, as desired.

As the folding operation takes place rapidly when the machine is operating at normal capacity, considerable air resistance is encountered by the side flaps A, D, as they advance through the. machine and are acted on by the rolls 61.

the upper extremity of wh ch is a housing'76 in which is mounted a suction and blow fan 7'7.

Diverging from the housing and terminating on the outside of the path of the flaps are pressure conduits '78. It will be seen that a cycle is'thus established, which materially reduces the air resistance encountered by the inturning flaps A, D. The operation of the machine in general is as follows:

Assuming a stack of blanks-X to be in position on the table 14,1411 and that the various parts have been adjusted in accordance with the lines of fold E and G, Fig. 1. When the feeder bars 17 forming part of the conveyor 20 advance in their cycle, each bar engages the lowermost'blankand urges'it forward over the table and beneath the hold-down bars 34, which are in alignment with the lines of fold E, G. As each blank advances, its side flaps A, D are' kicked'up by the panel lifters 35 and gradually turned upwardly and inwardly by the fold starters 39, 39a preparatory Upon further advance of the blank, itpasses under the shoes 45 with the fold lines E, G in alignment with the folding edges 45a. The flaps are now partly started on their-inturning movement and are ready for the comparatively sudden action of the folding rolls 61, which oscillate inwardly and completely fold the flaps A,D while the blanks are passing between the shoes 45 and the bars 50.

As there is more or less friction set up between the advancing blanks and the shoes 45 and bars 50, it is desirable that the latter be given a smooth finish. This'may be accomplished by machining,

chromium plating or-the like.

As the folded blanks pass from the machine, the fold setter bars or retainers 69 bear down on the fiapsand aid in setting the latter.

Any suitable method of disposing of the folded blanks may be adopted. In the present instance,

I show a conveyor, generally indicated at 80, connected up and driven in synchronism with the machine, the folded blanks passing onto the conveyor andthence to a point where further operations may be performed thereon, or to a point of loading or deposit.

Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. v10 to 14 inclusive, of the drawings, the machine comprises-a reciprocating carriage, generally indicated at 5', which is provided with a truck chassis or frame 6', having axles 7' mounted therein, on which wheels 8' are journalled, the latter being adapted for travel on tracks or rails 9 which are supported on pedestals 10'. r

The carriage 5, as here shown, is reciprocated through the medium of a crank wheel 11, to which is pivoted a connecting rod 12,'said rod in turn being pivoted to levers 13', which are secured at one end to a cross shaft 14 supported in bearing blocks 15', and at their opposite ends said levers 13' are pivotally connected to the ends of links 16', the opposite ends of the latter connecting with the rear axles 7'. Crank wheel 11" is secured on a shaft 17 which is mounted-in bearing pedestals 18', a drive pulley 19' being mounted on shaft 17, the drive being applied to pulley 19' and through the shaft 17', crank wheel 11, connecting rod 12', levers l3and links 16 to the carriage 5', to thereby impart reciprocatory motion to-the latter.

It will be understood that any suitablereciproeating means for the carriage may be adopted and that the various parts may be rendered ad-' justable so that the extent of reciprocation or speed of travel of the carriage may be regulated as desired.

The corrugated blanks, indicated at X 10 and 11- are disposed in stacked relation on a table generally indicated at 20 and comprisin bed bars 20 which are supported at one end on a cross brace 21', secured to uprights 22', the latter being supported by the pedestals 1,0; and at their opposite ends, said slats are supported on a cross piece 23', (see Fig. 11) which is secured at opposite sides of the machine to'standards or like stationary frame members 24'. The bed bars or slats 20 which comprise the table 20 extend only partially the length of the machine, as will be-noted, and are held stationary with respect to the reciprocating carriage. These slats, orany desired number thereof, may be removably and adjustably mounted on theirsupports for anti!- pose which will be later apparent.

The stack of blanks is held in vertical stacked position by an adjustable aligning device such as the plate 25', (see Fig. 12), which is adjustably secured to a cross beam or frame member 26', so that it may be positioned laterally of the machine in accordance with the size of the blanks bemc folded. 1

Means are provided in this machine, also, for,

folding each blank on the lines E andv G ac-.

curately regardless of the corrugations of the blank, as will now be described. Secured. on

' each of the side rails 9 are brackets 27', (note travels with the carriage and comprises shafts 29' having adjustably secured thereon mitre or bevel gears 30' which are adapted to mesh with gears 31 secured on stub shafts 32, said shafts being mounted in bearing brackets 33 secured to angle beams 34', the'horizontally extending in Figs;

flanges of which serve as supportingand feed members or bars 34 in a manner to be described. Theshafts 29' are mounted at opposite ends in bearing brackets 29" which are also secured to the angle beams 34'. The members 3434" as shown extend the full length of the carriage and are adjustably clamped at opposite extremities to cross supports or angle bars 35 by means of clamp brackets 35" and screws 35". ,By loosening the screws 35" the members 34 may be adjusted laterally of the carriage 5'. The supports 35' may form part of the end frame ofthe carriaga-j Also secured on the shafts 29' are folding arms 36 which terminate atone extremity in holding brackets or bosses 36" on which are rotatably mounted tubular rolls 37. These arms are adapted to oscillate and fold the blanks in a manner which will later be described. Motion is imparted to these arms through the medium" of trip members or arms 38 which are adjustably secured on the stub shafts 32' and terminate in bifurcated portions in which are mounted trip levers 391 by means of pins These trip v 1 levers are adapted to contact with the shaft or tripper bar 28'. The trip levers 39 have a limited pivoted action on the pins 40'. Thus as the carriage moves forward the tapered ends of the levers 39' engage the'tripper bar 28' and through the medium of the gears 3 1'. and 30' rotate the shafts 29, but on the return motion of the carriage these levers slideover the tripper bar' 28' and drop by gravity to their original position, backwardmovement of the tripper bars-being limited by contact with the bifurcated ends of the arms 38'-forming a limited joint connection as at 38", (Fig. 13):

- The gravitational position of rest of the arms 38* and levers 39' is adjustable through the medium of screws 41' threaded through brackets 41? and adapted to contact with the upper ex-' tremities of the arms 38'. lock nuts 41" being provided for these screws. The rolls 3'7 may be made of seamless tubing and preferably extend a suitable distance along the length of the machine so that when they contact with the corrugated blanks there will be an' extended surface contact, and as these rollsrotate' when they contact with blank, frictional, resistance 'is reduced to a minimum. This structure also avoidsmarring or distortion of the blank.

7 It will be seen that the folding assembly just described is carried by the feed members .or bars 34', and that these members are adjustable laterally of the machine to any desired'position in accordance with the fold lines of the blank, the bed blocks or slats 20" being removableor shiiftablev to permit such adjustment: At the front end of the carriage 5,, the member 34' on which the corrugated board rests during the folding operation is. bent down or is formed with a guide portion 34" for a purpose to be specified.

Betweenthe members 34', a support 42' is provided. This support as shownis shaped substantially similar to the members 34 and may also be adjustably supported in alike manner, its purposebeing to serve as a support and also a feed bar for the corrugated blanks at a point intermediate of the members 34'. This member may not be desired in certain types of machines where an intermediatesupport'is not required and its use is optional.

The corrugated blanks are fed in between the I members 34' and cooperating shoes or edge forming members 43' and 44""in a manner to be de scribed, the members 43' being mounted on each side of the carriage above the members 34' and the member 44' being mounted intermediate of'the members 43' abovethe member 42'. The shoes or members 43' are inthe form of substantially flat strips which taper towards their outer edges,

at which point. the corrugatedjblanks are folded upwardly thereover by the arms 36'. At one end these strips 43'-and .44 areadjustably secured to a cross support or shaft bymeans of brackets 46' and screws 46". The bar 45 is mounted at the opposite extremities in brackets 47' which are secured to the side beams or structural members 6' of the carriage 5. The ends of the strips 43' and 44' at this point are tapered as at so that the corrugated blanks will be guided in between the members 43' and 34'. At their opposite ends, the strips or members 43' and 44' have avertically floating mounting and arev connected for lateral adjustment "by means-of cross pieces 48 which are dovetailed I riage moves forward the kicker or dog 51 engages the lowermost corrugated blank and urges it forward over'the bed'blocks 20" until its rearmost edge-reaches a point adjacent theupright 24'. On each "side of the machine at this point stop-dogs or latches 50 are mounted, these dogs being pivotally mounted on the brackets 46', or any convenient support which is stationary with respect tothe carriage 5", and drop by gravity onto the blanks as they advance thereunder. When the rear edge of the blankrea'ches a point beyond these dogs and the carriage moves back, theends 50" of said'dogs engage the blank and prevent it fromm'oving backwards with the carriage, the blank being fed between the members 34' and 43' when the carriage is retracted.

A conveyor,. generally indicated at 52'" is mounted in rear of the machine and driven in synchronism therewith. The conveyor is provided with side frames 53' which at the receiving end of the conveyor, are connected to the rear frame members of the machine and at their opposite ends said frames are supported on the rear pedestal 10'. Rolls 54' having conveyor belts 55' thereon are mounted and-have bearing in the side frames 53', the folded-blanks being taken from the rear of the machine by said belts and conveyed to a suitable point for further operations, either manual or automatic. The conveyor or drive may be synchronized with the machine drive in any suitable manner, such as by a sprocket gear 54 and sprocket chain 55" shown in dotted lines at the rear of the conveyor.

The operation of the machine in general is as follows: Assuming a pile of blanks X to be in position on the table 20' and that the members 43' and 34' have been adjusted in accordance with the lines of fold E and G, (Fig. 1). When the carriage moved forward the kicker 51' engages the lowermost blank and advances it with the carriage to a point in advance of the of the blank. The carriage then retracts or moves back while the blank is held stationary with respect thereto, the blank being fed in between the members 34' and 43' as the carriage is retracted. During this entire movement before the initial or lower blank of the stack X has been fed in between the members 34' and 43', the folding mechanism, does nowork. However, when the first blank-has been fed in between the members-34' and 43' and the carriage again moved forward, the trip lever v39' engages the tripper bar 28', and through the gears 31' and 30' causes the folding arms 36' to swing upwardly and engage the sides A'and D of-the blank and fold them over the edges of the members or shoes 43. During this forward motion another blank has "been moved to an advanced position while the blank between members 43' and '34 is being folded. When the carriagemoves back the members or shoes 43'" are pulled free of the folded blank and another blank is fed in between said members 43. and.34- and the cycle of operation above specified is repeated.

- As the folding operation takespIace while the folding mechanism is travelling with the blank and while the latter is held in a rigid position between the members 43' and 34', the line of fold is accurate regardless of points'of least resistance along the blank. For instance, shouldthe score marks Eand G be off center with respect to any particular corrugation orgroove in the vblank, the line of fold will be at the point desired regardless of thesaid groove. The members 43' and 34'-may he -readily adjusted to any desired width,' so that all that is necessary when starting the machine is to adjustsaid members in alignment with the line offold and start the machine'in operation. Furthermore, it is not necessary. to score or mark the blanks in the first instance, although this may be done as a matter of convenience in adjusting the-members 34 and43'. r

It will be understood that the folding mechanism as particularly shown in Figs. '13 and 14 couldbe'mounted to operate at both ends of the machine and. thus fold a blank upon both the forward and backward stroke of the carriage and.

thereby increase the output of the machine, the drawings in the present instance only illustrating one assembly. 1

It will also be understood that taping machines of any known type may be mounted, to operate in conjunction with both of the types of folding machines herein shown.

The machines maybe used for folding unslotmachines as shown being simply examples of preferred types.

' While the foregoing illustrates and describes a preferred form of my invention with certain modifications, Ido not care to be limited by the Obviously various modifications may be specific showing herein or in any other manner than by the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is: a

1. A machine for folding corrugated blanks, comprising a support for one or a plurality of blanks, means for feeding the blanks in series in a substantially rectilinearplane into folding position, and folding mechanismfor automatically folding the blanks; said mechanism including folding shoes extending parallel to the direction of movement of the blanks and acting on the line of fold on the upper side of the blank, folding and supporting bars positioned on the line of fold on the lower side of the blank, substantially cylindrical folding members extending substantially parallel to said shoesrand bars, and means for moving said members transversely of said folding shoes. I

2. In a machine of the class specified, a support for one or a plurality of blanks, means for feeding the blanks in series in a substantially rectilinear plane, into folding position, and folding mechanism for automatically folding the blanks; said mechanisminciuding folding shoes adapted to bear on the line of fold on one side of the blank, folding and supporting bars positioned on the line of fold on the other side of the blank,

. tomove saidrolls transversely of of movement of the blank.

folding arms carried by said bars, substantially cylindrical folding rolls carried bysaid arms and extending parallel to the direction of movement of the blanks, and means for actuating said arms the y direction 3. A machine for folding corrugated blanks comprisinga supportfor one or a plurality of blanks, means for advancing the blanks in series in a substantially rectilinear plane into folding position, hold-down bars extending'in alignment with the line of fold of said blanks, folding'shoes and folding bars mounted in horizontal alignment with said hold-down bars, the blanks being advanced in series beneath said hold-down bars and then between said shoes and folding bars and in a direction substantially parallel to said shoes and bars, folding rolls mounted adjacent said shoes and in substantially parallel relation therewith, and means for moving said rolls transversely of said blanks. I

.4. In a machine of the class specified, a support for a stack of blanks, a conveyorfor said blanks folding mechanism mounted in, advance of said support, fold starters positioned onan inclined plane between said support and said folding mechanism, and means for raising the side flaps of said blanks to bring them into engagement .with said starters, said means being controlled by said conveyor.-

5. In a machine of the class specified, a table for supporting a stack of blanks, folding mechanism mounted to act on said blanks in advance of said table, a conveyor for advancing said blanks from beneathsaid stack in a substantially rectilinear plane into operative position with respect to said folding mechanism, fold starters mounted to act on said blanks prior to reaching said mech anism, and means for raising the side panels of said blanks into engagement with said starters, said means being controlled by saidconveyor.

6. In a machine for folding blanks, folding mechanism comprising a folding shoe acting on the line of fold on one sldeof the blank, means for advancing the blanks in a direction parallel to the line of fold, a folding roll extending along an axis substantially parallel to the line of fold, and means for moving said folding roll transversely of its axis and over said folding shoe.

7. In a machinefor folding corrugated paper blanks, the combination of mechanism for engaging a blank to produce a fold therein and means for directing a blast of air against a portion of the blank to assist in the folding operation the fold being initiated by'the blank engaging mechanism 8. a machine of the class described, folding mechanism for blanks of fibrous sheet material including shoe plates having av relatively thin edge over which portionsof the blanks are folded, said shoe plates having a longitudinal recess adjacent the folding edge to receive the excess ma- .terial developed onthe inner side of the fold, folding rolls extending parallel to the edges of said shoe plates and adapted to move transversely of said shoe plates tofold the material thereover, and means for moving said blanks in adirection parallel to said folding rolls.

9. A machine for folding corrugated blanks, comprising a supportfor one or a plurality of blanks, meansfor feeding the blanks in series in a substantially rectilinear plane into folding po sition, and folding mechanism for automatically folding the blanks; said mechanism including folding shoes extending parallel to the direction of movement of the blanks and acting'on theline of fold on the upper side of the blank,folding and supporting bars positioned on the line of fold'on the lower side of the blank, fold starting members adapted to engage the under side of the blank and to initiate the folding operation, substantially cylindrical folding members extending substan tially parallel to said shoes and bars, and means for moving saidmembers transversely of said folding shoes. I

10. In a machineof the class specified, ajsup port for a stackof blanks, a conveyor for said blanks, folding mechanism mounted in advance of said support, said folding mechanism compris ing a folding shoe, a folding roll extending along an axis substantially parallel to the line of fold and means for moving said roll transversely of its axis and over said folding shoe,'fold"starters positioned on an inclined plane between said'sup port and said folding mechanism, and means'for raising the side flaps of said blanks to bring them into engagement with said starters, said means being controlled by said conveyor.

,11. In a machine for folding blanks, folding mechanism comprising a fold starting member for engaging the blank to initiate the folding operation, a-folding shoe acting on the line of fold- 

